Coyotes deal Reinprecht to Florida

The Phoenix Coyotes have traded free-agent centre Steve Reinprecht to the Florida Pathers, who subsequently signed him to a three-year contract.

CBC Sports · June 19, 2009

They may not be moving, but they're still making moves.

The Phoenix Coyotes have traded pending free-agent centre Steve Reinprecht to Florida for winger Stefan Meyer, the Panthers announced on Friday.

The deal gave Florida the exclusive negotiating rights to Reinprecht ahead of the July 1 start of free agency, and they immediately agreed with him on a three-year contract. Financial terms weren't disclosed, but TSN reported that the deal pays the 33-year-old $1.8 million US in the first year and $2.175 million in each of the following two years, for an annual salary cap charge of $2.05 million.

"Steve is a smart, high-character, hard-working player who fits our club's need for a second line centre," Panthers assistant GM Randy Sexton said in a statement.

The Coyotes have also re-signed winger Petr Prucha to a two-year deal, according to TSN. Financial terms weren't immediately reported.

Coyotes majority owner Jerry Moyes filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on May 5, and earlier this week a judge in Arizona rejected his attempt to sell the team to Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie on the condition that the club be relocated to Hamilton.

Reinprecht, 33, recorded 41 points (14 goals) in 73 games last season for the Coyotes.

Prucha, 26, was acquired by Phoenix in a March trade with the New York Rangers. He had a combined 19 points (six goals) in 47 games.